Why the delays in Bohol, Yolanda areas rehab?

Bea Cupin

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Why the delays in Bohol, Yolanda areas rehab?
President Aquino says he wants a timeline for the projects identified in the rehabilitation plan, and his administration's ‘bottom-up budgeting’ takes time

MANILA, Philippines – Almost a year after Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), one of the strongest in the world to ever make landfall, ravaged the Eastern Visayas region, rehabilitation plans have mostly been unimplemented.

What’s causing the delay? President Benigno Aquino III told reporters on Monday, October 20, the bureaucratic process – his administration’s “bottom-up budgeting” approach – takes time.

Meron kasing kailangan na tinatawag na post disaster needs assessment at kailangan magmula ‘yon from the most parts sa local government units. Kaalinsunod ‘yan sa pilosipiya natin ng bottom up budgeting. Hindi nag-i-impose ‘yung tinatawag na ‘Imperial Manila,’” said Aquino at the sidelines of the 70th Anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landing in Tacloban City.

(You need the post-disaster needs assessment, which primarily comes from the local government units. That’s in line with our philosophy of bottom-up budgeting. We cannot impose what ‘Imperial Manila’ wants.)

The 6,000-page Yolanda Rehabilitation Plan was submitted to the President on August 1, 2014 – almost 9 months after Yolanda made landfall and devastated the Visayas.

Although Rehabilitation Secretary Panfilo Lacson said then that the President had virtually approved most of the plan, Aquino said he wanted a timeline for the rehabilitation projects.

The rehab plan was prepared by Lacson and his team, but the implementation of the actual projects will be done by the different line agencies. (READ: Lacson mulls quitting after Yolanda rehab plan)

The capabilities – or lack thereof – of some towns is also a factor, said Aquino. Some of the country’s poorest provinces are among those affected by Yolanda.

Ang masakit dito, hindi lahat ng munisipyong naapektuhan – pati Bohol, isama ko na – may mga engineer na structural engineer eh, ‘yung build back better ang priority,” said the President, referring to his administration’s rehabilitation battle cry.

(The painful part is that not all of the municipalities affected – let’s include Bohol as well – have structural engineers. Our priority is to build back better.)

It also took time before the national government learned about the municipalities’ predicaments, the President said. Aquino said the government is always working on sending structural engineers to assist the municipal engineers of some towns.

Aquino said the different line agencies and municipalities are set to give him timelines and details of the rehabilitation plan this week. “Makita ko lang iyon, okay na ako doon,” he added. (Once I see the timeline and details, I’ll be okay.)

Aquino said he is set to visit the region again by “next month” or just around the one-year anniversary Yolanda’s landfall. “Either puntahan ko lahat ng areas or baka isang central na meeting on – ‘yung talagang lahat nung specifications nung ating master plan,” he added.

(I’ll either visit the areas affected by Yolanda or hold a central meeting… where we can discuss all the specifications of the master plan.) – Rappler.com

For Rappler’s full coverage of the 1st anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), go to this page.

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Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.